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But a host of businesses have made a small estate in the middle there home for several years.

They include Hopskotch Childcare - one of just 16 nurseries on Merseyside to be labelled outstanding by Ofsted - and family- run Ally’s Sandwiches.

Another business, Natural Breaks, the Father James Dunne community centre and Transport Boxing Club are also based in a huge complex overseen by the North Liverpool Regeneration Company (NLRC).

WERE THE PLANS A SHOCK?

Nowaf Algabal at Ally's Sandwiches, near the proposed new Merseyside Police headquarters (Image: James Maloney)

Many workers off St Anne Street reacted with surprise at learning their offices could one day disappear under a new Merseyside Police HQ, with several suggesting concerns for what it may mean for them.

Nowaf Algabali, who has run Ally’s Sandwiches for eight years, was one of those left shocked by the announcement - though he saw an opportunity if he could retain a presence in the area to serve hundreds of new customers.

He said: “It’s a bit of a shock, we’ve not heard anything about this at all. I would be disappointed to go, if I could find a space I would go elsewhere but that would be hard because this is home. We would be very interested [if we could be part of this] - that would help a lot.”

John Nelson, who is on the NLRC board of directors told the ECHO the charity had been aware developers were eyeing up the area, but had not realised concrete plans had been drawn up.

He said the next step would be for the board to discuss the impact of Merseyside Police’s announcement, then for them to meet with tenants and take in their views about what happens next.

The new Merseyside Police HQ would be on land between St Anne Street and Scotland Road, either side of Rose Hill and including the 'Natural Breaks' site. Image courtesy of Google Street View

He said: “We have had ruminations about this - that they wanted to do this - but now it looks fairly definite so the board are going to have a meeting and then meet with tenants to talk to them about it.

“From my point of view I’m fairly excited about it but I never really thought it would happen.

“Now we’ve got to start taking it seriously, we’ve got to get everybody involved and find out what this means for them - everyone’s views have to be considered.”